Orthopedic sandal



May 25, 1937. Y L. B. ADAMS 2,081,655

- ORTHOPEDIC SANDAL Filed April 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. LONE) B. ADAMS A TTORNE Y.

"May 25, 1937.

L. B. ADAMS ORTHOPEDI C SANDAL Filed April 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4:

INVENTOR. LONEYB. ADAMS BY 7 {4% d 74% A TTORNEY.

Patented May 25, 1937 UNlTEfi dTA'EEd rarest @FHQE Application April 25,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to orthopedic sandal shoes. The foot consists of a number of bones divided as follows, the phalanges or toes, the metatarsus and tarsus or heel and ankle joint.

Each phalange has three bones with the exception of the large toe which has two bones.

The metatarsus has five bones each of which corresponds to the respective toe. Next is the tarsus which has seven bones as follows, three cuneiform, scaphoid, cuboid, astragalus, and oscalsis, each bone forming a joint with the succeeding bone. Each bone in the foot is supplied with arteries, nerves and a number of muscles and ligaments. Take for instance the muscles and ligaments which are attached to the toes and arch of the foot, these are constantly stretched when a person walks and should this continue and become too great, these muscles and ligaments become weakened allowing the 2 bones to become distorted and press against a nerve causing pain or against an artery which would interfere with the natural circulation of the blood supply in the foot.

The principal object of my invention is to pro- 2 vide an orthopedic sandal shoe which is so constructed as to prevent or relieve the foot of these and many other distortions or malformations and give the foot correct support.

From the drawings and description it will be 30 found that there are several other novel advantages to my invention.

The various objects and advantages are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

35 Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are side views of my orthopedic sandal shoe illustrating the inside and outside respectively, with an outlined skeleton of the foot.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my orthopedic sandal 40 Shoe.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar or like parts throughout the several views.

By reference to the drawings it will be noted that my orthopedic sandal consists of an upper having a relatively soft pliable tip portion 2, which by reason of its extending from the forepart of the sandal to approximately the middle of the first phalanges joint of the first and fifth toes of the wearer, and being shaped as shown, gives the sandal sufficient resistance against foot disturbance at this point.

When the sandal is applied to the foot, the tip portion 2, having its lower edges stitched or on the line X-X,

1935, Serial No. 18,137

otherwise secured in place between inner and outer soles 4 and 5 respectively, serves to encase or cover and support the toes in proper position. The tip portion also acts as a support for the forepart of the soles thereby preventing the latter from any undesirable movements.

A tongue 3, preferably integrally formed on the tip portion, extends rearwardly and upwardly to the vamp portion A which vamp is provided with side supporting straps 6 and 8 of soft pliable material extending downwardly at the forepart thereof with the lower ends being fitted in between the inner and outer soles and secured thereto by stitching or the like. Thus it will be noted that the strap member 6 is so arranged that the sarne is positioned to the rear of the head of the first metatarsis (b), otherwise known as the bunion joint. Another side sup porting strap 1 spaced from and to the rear of strap 6, extends from the rear end of the vamp to the soles, and thus serves as a support for the cuniform (c) and scaphoid (s), as illustrated in Figure 1.

Whereas strap support member 8, on the other side of the vamp, fits to the rear of and relieves the strain on the head of the fifth metatarsus (f), as illustrated in Figure 2. A fourth supporting strap member 9, extending downwardly from the rear end of the vamp and spaced from strap 8, is likewise secured between the soles 4 and 5 and serves as a support for the cuboid (g) bone.

The upper of my sandal is provided with a counter strap portion [8 positioned at the rear end of the sandal and extending downwardly from the upper rim of the upper and secured between the inner and outer soles.

The upper portion is preferably formed at the lower edge thereof with the downwardly and inwardly extending or cupped side edges l2 and i3 respectively of suitable stiffened material extending from 'the rear thereof to the points if] and H at the forepart of the side strap members 6 and 9 respectively. These cupped sides or edges provide an additional support or brace for the counter I5 and thereby efiiciently sup port a fleshy or flabby heel thus holding and retaining the same firmly in position on the sole.

A longitudinal strap H3 is preferably formed integrally with the side supporting straps 6 and "I thus providing a side support for an arch support, should such a member be used. This side support 5 5 is particularly advantageous in that it serves as a means for ventilating or causing air to circulate through the arch. t is known that there is a certain amount of play between the arch of the foot and the shank of the sandal which results in body heat being created. However when the foot is lifted there is a tendency to create a Vacuum between the arch of the foot and the shank of the sandal which results in cool or fresh air being drawn or sucked into the sandal at the low or uncupped edge of the sole, as at 20, extending between the straps 8 and 9, and when the foot is lowered the air will be forced out of the sandal over the top edge of the side supporting strap l4 thereby cooling the arch of the foot.

What I claim:

1. An orthopedic sandal of the character described comprising inner and outer soles, a heel, an upper portion, said portion having a tip section at the forepart of the soles for housing the toes, an upstanding heel supporting member secured to said soles and to the rear of said upper portion, said upper portion having attached thereto two spaced strap members on each side thereof, said spaced strap members extending downwardly from said upper portion and secured to said soles, the forward strap members of said upper portion being positioned slightly to the rear of the forward ends of the inner and outer metatarsus bones and supporting the metatarsal portion of the foot, and the rearward strap members depending from the upper portion and secured to the soles, and being positioned opposite to and supporting the scaphoid, cuboid and; cuneiform bones.

2. An orthopedic sandal of the character described comprising inner and outer soles, a heel, an upper portion, said portion having a tip section at the forepart of the soles for housing the toes, an upstanding heel supporting member secured to said soles and to the rear of said upper portion, said upper portion having attached thereto two spaced strap members on each side thereof, said spaced strap members extending downwardly from said upper portion and secured to said soles, the forward strap members of said upper portion being positioned slightly to the rear of the forward ends of the inner and outer metatarsus bones and supporting the metatarsal portion of the foot, and the rearward strap members depending from the upper portion and secured to the soles, and being positioned opposite to and supporting the scap-hoicl, cuboid and cuneiform bones, and an inner longitudinal arch supporting strap extending between the inner strap members at the lower ends thereof.

LONEY B. ADAMS. 

